Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. – Psalm 127:3
Children are a gift. They turn young women and men into mothers and fathers. They push us to see life differently, to focus on what matters and to seek for the things eternal in a search for the best for those we love so much. In the weeks coming, the parents are really focusing on preparing for this new life that God has given to them.
Twenty-Seventh Week
Reaching this week, the baby is about the length of a bottle brush and weighs 2.25 pounds. This is the most active the baby’s brain has been to date as it makes complex connections. The lungs are maturing as the alveoli are expanding and preparing to exchange more air after birth. Practice time for breathing has begun, too, as the baby spends time every day breathing in the amniotic fluid. The baby has much more recognizable awake and sleep times, and these do not always coincide with the mother’s schedule. So, the mother might be woken up with kicks of a fully awake preborn baby in the middle of the night. This prepares her for the middle of the night feedings and snuggle time that will only be several weeks away. Though still very premature, almost 90% of babies born this early survive with the support of NICU.
Twenty-Eighth Week
Currently, the baby is the length of a diaper bag and weighs about 2.5 pounds, which is as large as a squash. The pregnancy is now in the final trimester. The brain is hard at work making ridges and furrows that are the typical appearance of the brain. These are critical as nerve cell connections are established. With the higher brain movement and continued REM sleep, the baby’s eye movements have increased by this week. Through the umbilical cord, which is the direct connection with the mother, the baby continues to receive blood, nutrients, and oxygen as well as the removal of waste. At this stage, the mother can feel almost every movement of the baby, even the occasional surprise elbow and knee jabs. With each week better preparing the baby for life outside the womb, the chance of survival in this week if born now is at 94% with NICU support.
Twenty-Ninth Week
At this time, the baby is as long as a Bitty Baby Doll and weighs about 3 pounds. Baby is continuing to gain weight and strengthen the bones and muscles. The skin of the baby is getting thicker and preparing more to be an amazing protective layer for the baby outside of the womb. The lanugo that covers the whole baby has reached its max and will now begin to fall out to prepare for birth. As the mother’s doctor encourages an increased intake of calcium, the baby is absorbing more to help strengthen and harder all those little bones. The baby is also learning to focus their eyes. At birth, the baby’s eyesight is only as far as needed for the baby to see the mother while nursing. Over the months after birth the eyesight will focus further and be better able to distinguish what is being seen.
Thirtieth Week
The baby is now about the length of a formula mixer and weighs about 3.25 pounds. Development throughout the baby is continuing, but the focus is now on weight gain. Hiccups are even more frequent in the baby in this last trimester. It strengthens the respiratory muscles, and some studies show that it stimulates the brain. The toenails of the baby are growing now. By this week, the chance of survival is as high as 98% still with the needed support of NICU.
A wee bit of heaven drifted down from above, a handful of happiness a heart full of love. The mystery of life, so sacred and sweet, the giver of joy so deep and complete. Precious and priceless, so loveable too, the world’s sweetest miracle baby is you. (Baby Love Quotes)
References:
Resources include: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy-week-by-week, https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-21-25 and https://www.verywellfamily.com
Baby Love Quotes retrieved from https://www.paperheartfamily.com/quotes-about-babies-love/
Author: Laura Stephens
